NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Favorable views of the United States among Indians have dropped over the past year, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. The findings suggest that many Indians have become more critical of the U.S. as President Donald Trump’s trade policies and public statements toward India continue to shape public opinion.
The survey found that 45% of Indians now hold a favorable opinion of the United States. That figure stood at 54% in 2025. Meanwhile, 31% of respondents said they viewed the U.S. unfavorably. The results highlight a noticeable shift in attitudes even though India remains more positive toward the U.S. than many other countries included in the global survey.
Pew Research Center surveyed people across 36 countries to measure views of the United States and confidence in Trump’s leadership. The report showed that opinions of the U.S. have weakened in many parts of the world. Even so, India continues to rank above the global average in its overall perception of the United States.
The survey also examined how Indians viewed Trump’s handling of international issues. Confidence in Trump declined sharply compared with last year. This year, 39% of Indians said they believed Trump would do the right thing in world affairs. Last year, that figure reached 52%. At the same time, 36% of respondents said they had no confidence in his leadership on global matters.
Trade policy appeared to play a major role in shaping these views. Only 18% of Indians supported Trump’s tariff measures. His administration imposed tariffs of up to 50% on some Indian exports before the U.S. Supreme Court blocked those duties. The tariffs became a major point of discussion because they affected trade between two important economic partners.
The survey also explored opinions about the role of the United States in global affairs. Nearly half of the respondents, or 47%, said the U.S. interferes in the internal affairs of other countries either a fair amount or a great deal. In contrast, 30% disagreed with that statement. Some participants did not express an opinion, so the totals do not equal 100%.
Despite the decline in support, India still recorded stronger views of the United States than many other nations included in the survey. Across the 36 countries, a median of 57% of respondents held an unfavorable opinion of the U.S., while only 37% expressed a favorable view. Those numbers show that concerns about the United States extend well beyond India.
Global confidence in Trump also remained low. Across all countries surveyed, only 23% of respondents said they trusted Trump to do the right thing in world affairs. By comparison, 76% said they lacked confidence in his leadership. These findings suggest that skepticism toward Trump remains widespread internationally.
At the same time, Indians expressed mixed opinions about American values. The survey found that 54% believed the U.S. government respects personal freedoms. That result indicates that many Indians continue to recognize positive aspects of the American political system despite growing concerns over trade and foreign policy.
The United States and India have built a strong relationship over the past two decades through trade, defense cooperation, education, and technology partnerships. However, public opinion often changes when government policies affect economic interests or diplomatic ties. As a result, trade disputes and political rhetoric can influence how people view another country.
Experts often note that public opinion shapes international relationships over time. Although government leaders continue to strengthen strategic cooperation, surveys like Pew’s provide insight into how ordinary citizens view those efforts. Public attitudes can also affect business ties, tourism, educational exchanges, and broader people-to-people connections.
